Improvement in oyster-coolers



FFICE.

JOSEPH P. MILLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN oYsTER-cooLERs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,621, dated November 5, 1878; application led October 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. MILLER, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Oyster Cooler and Preserver, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide suitable and convenient means for cooling and preserving oysters, clams, Ste., while allowing them to be readily accessible at all times for removal, as is required in the eating-bars of hotels or restaurants, the invention being specially designed for use in suoli locations.

To this end my improvements consist in the combination of a base-plate having a central vertical socket, and a perforated ice-receiver which is vertically adjustable upon said socket, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical central section through an oyster cooler and preserver embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view of the ice-receiver with the cap removed; and Figs. 3 and 4, views in elevation, showing different modes of adjustment of the ice-receiver.

To carry out my invention, I provide a baseplate, A, having a vertical socket, A1, formed upon or secured to it at or near its center. The plate A may either be bolted directly to the bar or counter upon which it is to be located, or, as is preferable, be secured to abedplate or support, A2, having a flange or rim surrounding it, and a drip or escape cock, a2, for the water which falls upon it. An ice-receiver, B, having a perforated or slotted bottom, is secured upon a rod or stem, B, which fits within the socket A1, and is adjustable vertically therein, so as to enable the ice-receiver to be set at any desired height above the base-plate, and to be raised or lowered relatively thereto, as may be required. Fig. l of the drawings shows this adjustment as effectedby means of a screw-thread cut upon the stem B1, and fitting a corresponding internal thread in the socket A1, while in the constructionl shown in Fig. 3 a rack, b, is formed on the stem, which is held in any desired position by a pawl, al, pivoted to the socket; or, in a small apparatus, a simple binding-screw, a3, might be used instead of the rack and pawl.

Fig. 4L shows the stem as having a series of holes, and adjusted by passing a pin, a4,

through any one of the same.

The cap or cover B2 of the ice-receiver is an imperforate plate having an exterior flange, 112,-which forms the sides of the ice-receiver, and rests upon the perforated bottom thereof, its depth being made conformable to the quan t-ity of ice to be used; or, if preferred, the flange 'may be attached to the bottom plate instead of to the cap itself.

In the operation of the cooler, the oysters are stacked upon the support A2, around the central socket, and the ice -reeeiver, having been filled with ice, is adj usted at such a height as to be in contact with the top ofthe pile of oysters, so that the water from the melting of the ice drips down through the pile, keeping the oysters cool and fresh. As the oysters are removed the ice-receiver is gradually moved downward in correspondence with the diminished height of the pile, in order that it may be always in contact therewith until .the lowest point of the traverse of the stem is reached. The apparatus provides a convenient supb port for large blocks of ice, prevents the rapid melting of the same due to exposure to the air,

"and enables the cooling action of the ice to be constantly exerted upon the oysters beneath it, while admitting of the ready removal of one or more whenever required without the necessity of lifting off the ice or the risk of its accidental displacement, which occurs in the ordinary practice of depositing an otherwise unsupported block of ice upon the top ot' a pile of oysters. It is likewise more accessible and of less cost than the glass cases sometimes employed for keeping shell-oysters in restaurants.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, in an oyster cooler and preserver, of a base-plate orl support having a vertical socket, and a perforated ice-receiver having a stem or rod which is vertically adjustable in said socket, substantially as set forth.

JosErH r. MILLER.

Witnesses J. SNowDEN BELL, WM. S. ALLIsoN. 

